CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has intensified the African National Congress (ANC) campaign trail in the Western Cape, focusing heavily on the Cape Town Metro as the 2026 Local Government Elections approach on November 4. The targeted two-day push aims to reclaim lost support and make significant inroads into the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) long-held stronghold in the region.
Reclaiming the Western Cape and Service Delivery
Speaking to the media and local communities, Ramaphosa emphasized that the ANC is in the region to listen to residents’ concerns and urge them to vote for the party to enact meaningful change.
“When the ANC is able to win the opportunity and the power to govern, we will be able to fully bring about changes in the lives of our people and deliver better services to the people of Cape Town,” Ramaphosa stated. He specifically highlighted the dilapidated state of service delivery in areas like Mitchells Plain, noting that communities living in shacks with bucket toilets have been neglected by both the city and provincial governments.
ANC Chief Whip in the National Assembly and NEC member responsible for elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, echoed these sentiments. He described the last 20 years of DA rule in Cape Town as detrimental to the overwhelming majority. Ntuli expressed confidence that the ANC will significantly raise its support levels, predicting that the DA will not govern the city following the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Addressing Crime, Gang Violence, and Police Deployment
A major focal point of the campaign has been the surge in gang violence and mass shootings. Defending the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to the Cape Flats, Ramaphosa clarified that the military is acting in a supportive role under “Operation Prosper” to bolster the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“We must be clear that the soldiers will never supplant the role of the police,” Ramaphosa explained, noting that the deployment was a direct response to public outcry. He added that the government is actively rooting out corrupt police officials and establishing specialized anti-gang units to tackle the massive crime problem.
Community Concerns: Cost of Living and Security
During a door-to-door campaign in Rylands near Athlone, Ramaphosa visited the home of resident Lukeman Sunday, whose family has now hosted three South African presidents: Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, and Ramaphosa.
Sunday thanked the President for South Africa’s stance at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Palestine but raised pressing local concerns. He highlighted the need for an additional police station to adequately cover the vast area between Athlone and Manenberg, and pleaded for government intervention regarding the rising cost of living, specifically surging fuel and electricity prices that are placing massive pressure on middle- and lower-income households.
Addressing these national economic pressures, Ntuli noted that the upcoming Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to be tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will specifically prioritize these issues. Ntuli expressed confidence that the budget adjustments will address the high cost of living, fuel prices, and the protection of social security grants for the poor.
Government of National Unity Tensions
The campaign trail also shed light on ongoing friction within the national Government of National Unity (GNU). Ntuli heavily criticized the DA’s conduct within the coalition, labeling the party as reckless and accusing them of actively attempting to destabilize the GNU.
He referenced the DA’s recent, unsuccessful court bid to block the ANC from fielding candidates in certain municipalities, a move that was overturned by the Constitutional Court. Ntuli confirmed that the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will formally reflect on the DA’s position and intentions within the GNU moving forward.
Constitutional Court Victory and Internal ANC Matters
Ramaphosa noted that a recent Constitutional Court ruling—which overturned an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) decision—was a major positive for the ANC. The ruling allows the party’s representatives to be placed on the ballot in affected areas, a victory that has galvanized volunteers and members across the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and beyond.
On internal party matters, Ramaphosa provided a health update on the ANC Secretary General, who recently fell ill amid the stress of the Constitutional Court proceedings. Ramaphosa confirmed the Secretary General is recovering well and has been ordered to rest until fully cleared by doctors. Additionally, regarding ongoing protests over undocumented foreigners, Ramaphosa assured the public that the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) is actively managing the migration issue and that the government is fully on top of the matter.
The ICJ, Palestine, and the Muslim Vote
While addressing members at the International Peace College of South Africa in Rylands, Ramaphosa delivered a robust defense of South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ. He stressed that the legal action is not the initiative of one person, but the collective wish of the South African people, deeply rooted in Nelson Mandela’s ethos that South Africans will not be completely free until the people of Palestine are free. He likened the legal approach to the global community’s historical use of the United Nations to declare apartheid a crime against humanity.
Transitioning to the importance of civic participation, Ramaphosa outlined several key reasons why Muslim citizens must vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections:
- Equal Citizenship: Voting exercises the equal rights guaranteed by the Freedom Charter and Section 19 of the Constitution.
- Religious Decisions: It allows citizens to evaluate how parties approach matters affecting their religious choices.
- Advancing Justice: It provides a mechanism to ensure public representatives uphold constitutional rights, fairness, and compassion.
- Honoring Struggle Legacy: Voting honors the immense sacrifices made by anti-apartheid Muslim leaders like Yusuf Dadoo, Yusuf Cachalia, and Imam Abdullah Harun.
- Promoting Accountability: It gives communities the power to hold councilors and the President accountable for service delivery, unemployment, and healthcare.
As the November 4 elections draw near, the ANC’s intensified focus on the Western Cape underscores the party’s determination to reclaim the Cape Town Metro, turning community grievances into a unified call for a return to power.
